Electrolytic cells of the tank type



Filed July 28, 1949 D. w. KENT 2,647,082

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ELECTROLYTIC CELLS OF THE TANK TYPE Filed July 28, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 28, 1953 D. w. KENT ELECTROLYTIC CELLS OF THE TANK TYPE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 28, 1949 0 wow INVENTOR Dona/d WX mf Y Q2244; d7,

ATTORNEY July 28, 1953 D. w. KENT 2,547,082

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ATTORNEY July 28, 1953 D. w. KENT 2,647,082

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' ELECTROLYTIC CELLS OF THE TANK TYPE Filed July 28, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ily! W l mit 45g H HI- 1 n" I INVENTOR flanaliz IVIXemf Patented July 28, 1953 ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELEGTROLYTIC CELLS OF THE TANK TYPE Donald W. Kent, Whitemarsh, Pa.

Application July 28, 1949, Serial No. 107,160

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electrolytic cells of the tank type.

One object of the invention comprises among others an improved top construction for an electrolytic cell of the tank type.

Another object of the invention is a new top construction for electrolytic cells of the tank type embodying simplified means for the securing of diaphragm supports. Another object of the invention comprises a construction permitting the removal of the cell top, the electrodes, diaphragms and. diaphragm supports out of the tank as a substantially single unit.

The foregoing and still further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 represents an exploded perspective view with parts broken away of some of the principal parts of the construction in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 represents a perspective view with parts in cross section and parts broken away of a portion of the construction in accordance with the invention and showing the securing of diaphragm supports in the cell top;

Fig. 3 illustrates a side view partly in cross section and partly broken away of a portion of the construction in accordance with the invention and showing a part of the cell top and the position of diaphragm supports, diaphragms and electrodes in relation to the cell top;

Fig. 4. is a top view of a cell top constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of terminal positioning means in relation to the terminal aperture in the cell top;

Figs. 6 and 6a respectively show a top view and cross sectional side view of a cell aperture in accordance with the preferred construction shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 represents a plan view with parts broken away of a blank for a diaphragm support or skirt useful in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 8 illustrates a plan view of a portion of an alternative form of a diaphragm support blank useful in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 9 represents a portion of a respective View of two blanks of the type illustrated in. Fig. 8 assembled to form the completed diaphragm support or skirt;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view partly broken away of a portion of an electrode holder construction in accordance with the invention;

Figs. 11 and 12 respectively show front and side views of novel frame construction for electrode positioning in accordance with the invention; and.

Fig. 13 illustrates an enlarged top view With parts broken away showing the various parts removable as a substantially single unit from the tank of the cell.

In the drawings, 1 designates the tank within which the electrodes and the electrolyte are contained. As indicated in Fig. 1, a liner 2 sits within tank I. Cell or tank top 3 carries the pleats 4. Gasket 5 is interposed between the rim 5 of the liner and the pleated tank top 3. Tank top 3 carries the substantially fiat side portions, i. e., non-pleated portions 1 and 1a, as provided, with the retaining rims 8 and- Ba respectively. Frame members 9 and 9a fit onto the flat portions 1 and la of the pleated tank top 3 being securable: to clamp the tank top 3 and gasket 5 onto the flange of liner 6 and the flange of tank I together by way of the bolts I Side bars I 2 and I 20!. are pro-- vided carrying the substantially cylindrical spacers l3. Shim blocks l4 and Ma are provided to fit at the ends of the bars 9 and 9a. respec tively and the corner bolts ll passing through the shim blocks and the frame members 9 and 9a through tank top 3, gasket 5 and liner flange: 6 and through flange of tank I, secure the bars. l2 and [2a into position. Additional bolts II are: provided to pass through every other spacer l3 thereby firmly pressing the flat portions of the pleated tank top 3 against the gasket 5. There: are further provided in the pleated top 3 electrode terminal apertures l9 and 20 located respectively in alternate flat portions of the top between pleats thereof. Terminal apertures 20 are located at one side to accommodate the terminal from the positive electrodes while terminal openings I9 are located at the other side to accommodate the terminals from the negative electrodes. Apertures' 2i in frame members 0 and 9a respectively are provided to register with. corresponding apertures Zla in the flat portions: 1 and la at the ends of the pleated top 3. Apertures 2| and 2 la serve as gas outlets and are provided with pipe extensions l6 fastened into these apertures (see Fig. 2). Other pipe extensions l5 communicate with the interior of the tank throu h the pleated top 3.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, a multiple number of positive electrodes 22 and negative electrodes 23 having the respective terminalsv 24 and. 25 are provided and secured in the manner hereinafter more fully stated. The positive elec trodes 22 aresurrounded in the usual manner: by

a diaphragm l8 secured to a diaphragm support or skirt H. The skirt l'l carries the wing extensions IU. Wing extensions are inserted in and carried by pleats 4 of the cell top 3. Wing portions [0 may be secured in the pleats by spotwelding or other suitable means. Wing portions II] project beyond the rounded portions of skirt ll, the latter being relatively flush against the flat underside of the pleated top between the pleats thereof. If desired the rounded portions may also be suitably secured, as by spot-welding, to the fiat under-part of the pleated top 3.

The preferred construction of the skirt is by way of two complementary blanks, one of which is for instance illustrated in Fig. '7. The lower skirt portions of the blanks are bent round, leaving the wing portions Ina substantially straight, and the bent skirt portions of two blanks are properly seamed together to form the skirt, as for instance illustrated in Fig. 2.

As alternative construction a blank may be used, the upper skirt portion Ila of which is cut out with a projection l'lc. When then the skirt end portions are bent inwardly and the projecting end He outwardly, as for instance illustrated in Fig. 9, there will be formed a skirt having the complementary side portions lib, the straight wing portions lfla and complementary tab portions He. The tab portions Ilc may then serve to further secure the skirt against the fiat undersides of the pleated top 3 between the pleated portions thereof by suitable fastening. Thus, the use of the pleated top serves as an excellent medium for substantially accurate spacing and the maintaining of spacing of electrode skirts, as

well as individual skirt sides, provides means for the effective securing and gas leakage sealing of the skirts.

If the pleated top in accordance with the invention is of metal or other electrically conductive material, it is necessary to suitably insulate at least one of the electrode terminals passing through the cover. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner though I prefer a construction as for instance illustrated in Figs. 5, 6

and 6a. As there shown, a collar 35 is set onto the opening 36 in the cover 34, or may if desired be formed integral with the cover by slitting, bending or by drawing. Collar 35 has the upper throat portion 33. The electrode terminal 33 is provided with an oval and wedge-shaped portion 3| covered with the insulating material 32. The insulation-covered, Wedge portion 3| rests in throat portion 33, thereby holding the terminal in substantially firmly fixed position within the collar and relative to the top of the tank cell.

Figs. 10-13 illustrate the electrode securing construction in accordance with the invention. Four corner posts 29 are provided carrying the frame members 3?, 38 and 4|. Frame members 4| essentially serve as bracing and supporting members while frame members 31 and 38 respectively carry the electrode positioning posts 43 and 44. Tubular spacing members 39 are provided between the frame members 31 and 38, the latter being held in position by the thereto-secured spacingmembers 48 and 48a and nut 42 on corner post 29. Frame member 31 is held in position by the spacing members 40 and 40a secured thereto. The relative height of the frame assembly is determined and adjustable by nuts 42. Electrode supporting posts 43 and 44 are arranged in staggered alignment with respect to each other so as to alternately accommodate and support positive andnegative electrodes respectively.

Specifically referring to Fig. 10 there is there illustrated an electrode post construction of an electrode and diaphragm. The electrode supporting or positioning post 43 is secured to frame member 31 by clamping nuts 46 and 41. Electrode 22, composed of the spaced apart plates 22a and 22b, is secured to the tubular diaphragm spacing and support member 45. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner preferably by spot-Welding. Tubular member is slotted with the slot in alignment with the spacing between the electrode plates 22a and 22b, and accommodating the spacing block 49 through which the electrode supporting post 43 passes. The diaphragm [8 passes around the tubular member 45, being held apart and supported thereby, and further being pierced by the electrode support post 43.

Whereas Fig. 10 illustrates the construction in connection with the use of a positive electrode requireing a diaphragm, the same construction may be used, if desired, for negative electrodes even though no diaphragm support is needed in that case. Alternatively in a construction for negative electrodes, the tubular member 45 may be eliminated and it is then only necessary to suitably secure, by spot-welding or otherwise, the spacing and positioning block 49 to the electrode portions 22a and 22b in between thereof.

Within the preferred embodiment of the invention the electrode supporting posts are removably mounted. Thus, for instance, if the tubular member 43 and/or the spacing block 49 are secured to the electrode 22, the electrode supporting post 43 may be arranged slidably in the bore of the spacing block 49. In that case it is only necessary to slide out the post 43 when it is desired to disengage the same from the electrode. On the other hand, it is possible by removing the entire frame member 31 or 38, as the case may be, after having first removed them from the corner post 29, to disengage all of the electrode supporting posts from the electrodes. As is readily understood from the drawings and the description hereof, at least one electrode supporting post is provided for each electrode at each end thereof.

As will be seen from the foregoing, the construction in accordance with the invention, insofar as it relates to the preferred embodiment thereof, which includes the electrode supporting arrangement, the operating and important parts may be removed from the cell as a single unit. This unit thus, for instance, comprises essentially the top of the tank, the therefrom dependant diaphragm support skirts, the diaphragms, the electrodes and the various spacing and supporting members. As is apparent from Figs. 3 and 13, the corner posts 29 pass through and secure the cell top 3, and are provided for the purpose with the clamping nuts 26. It is only necessary to remove the various bolts H which secure the tank top assembly, gaskets and liner to the tank, and the entire tank top can then be removed carrying with it as a unit by Way of the corner posts 29 bracing and frame members 31, 38 and 4|, all of the positive and negative electrodes including the diaphragm and diaphragm support skirts of the positive electrodes. At the same time the electrodes remain in their predetermined fixed position so that damage is avoided. The unit can then be cleaned or repaired and if required or desired may be further disassembled. The construction on the other hand permits the easy assembling of the unit with the diaphragm electrodes and diaphragm skirts in correct and properly spaced position, while the unit is still outside of the tank, and thereafter place the same into the tank without fear of in any way disturbing or otherwise interfering with the pre-arranged, fixed position of the parts. When the unit is assembled the posts 29 pass through the apertures 28 in the side portions 1 and. 1a respectively of the tank cover 3 and further pass through the apertures 21 of the frame members 9 and 9a of the tank top.

As will be thus seen, the invention broadly comprises a. tank top of sheet material and multiple substantially parallel upstanding pleats formed in said top. It further embraces improved electrode supporting and securing means including a frame having two sides and two ends, a number of horizontal posts carried by said sides in opposing pairs, the posts of each pair extending into and supporting the associated electrode from opposing sides thereof.

The invention includes within one embodiment thereof a pleated top defining pairs of pleats, and multiple diaphragm supporting skirts, anchored in a pair of said pleats, the said skirts having preferably straight parallel sides and rounded end portions which latter may be provided with supporting tabs secured to the under side of said top. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a tank top of sheet material, multiple substantially parallel upstanding pleats formed in said top, a number of diaphragm supporting skirts of sheet material, each anchored in a pair of said pleats, a number of electrodes, a dia phragm secured to and depending from each of said skirts surrounding some of said electrodes, means supporting said electrodes in spaced relation to each other, and means for securing said electrode supporting means to said top, said top, skirts, diaphragms and electrodes forming a unit removable as such from the tank of such cell.

The foregoing description is furnished by way of illustration and not of limitation, and it is therefore my intention that the invention be limited only by the appended claims or their equivalents wherein I have endeavored to claim broadly all inherent novelty.

I claim:

1. In an electrolytic cell of the type including a tank and a top for said tank, the improvement of a tank top composed of a continuous sheet of thin material forming a plane surface, the margins of which rest on the upper edge of said tank, said plane sheet being compressed to form a number of parallel pleats standing upwardly above said plane surface, alternate positive and negative electrodes within said tank, each electrode being parallel to and centrally positioned with respect to a contiguous pair of pleats, a number of diaphragm supporting tubes of sheet material, the horizontal sections of each encircling the horizontal section of an electrode, each said tube being of a width equal to the distance between two contiguous pleats and formed with two portions extending upwardly above the said plane surface, each such portion extending into and secured within one of said contiguous pleats, said tank top comprising in addition vertically oriented rods carried by and depending from said lane surface, a horizontal frame carried by said vertically oriented rods, horizontal posts in opposed pairs carried by said horizontal frame, each pair of opposed posts entering into and supporting one of said electrodes on opposed sides thereof.

2. A tank top according to claim 1 comprising also vertically oriented tubular diaphragm distending members attached to each end of said positive electrodes and in which said horizontal posts pierce said diaphragm distending members.

DONALD W. KENT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,281,983 Liebknecht Oct. 15, 1918 1,667,793 Mauser May 1, 1928 1,906,955 Gay May 2, 1933 1,963,959 Enzor June 26, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 318,734 Great Britain Sept. 12, 1929 

1. IN AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A TANK AND A TOP FOR SAID TANK, THE IMPROVEMENT OF A TANK TOP COMPOSED OF A CONTINUOUS SHEET OF THIN MATERIAL FORMING A PLANE SURFACE, THE MARGINS OF WHICH REST ON THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID TANK, SAID PLANE SHEET BEING COMPRESSED TO FORM A NUMBER OF PARALLEL PLEATS STANDING UPWARDLY ABOVE SAID PLANE SURFACE, ALTENATE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ELECTRODES WITHIN SAID TANK, EACH ELECTRODE BEING PARALLEL TO AND CENTRALLY POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO A CONTINUOUS PAIR OF PLEATS, A NUMBER OF DIAPHRAGM SUPPORTING TUBES OF SHEET MATERIAL, THE HORIZONTAL SECTIONS OF EACH ENCIRCLING THE HORIZONTAL SECTION OF AN ELECTRODE, EACH SAID TUBE BEING OF WIDTH EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO CONTIGUOUS PLEATS AND FORMED WITH TWO PORTIONS EXTENDING UPWARDLY ABOVE THE SAID PLANE SURFACE, EACH SUCH PORTION EXTENDING INTO AND SECURED WITHIN ONE OF SAID CONTIGUOUS PLEATS, SAID TANK TOP COMPRISING IN ADDITION VERTICALLY ORIENTED RODS CARRIED BY AND DEPENDING FROM SAID PLANE SURFACE, A HORIZONTAL FRAME CARRIED BY SAID VERTICALLY ORIENTED RODS, HORIZONTAL POSTS IN OPPOSED PAIRS CARRIED BY SAID HORIZONTAL FRAME, EACH PAIR OF OPPOSED POSTS ENTERING INTO AND SUPPORTING ONE OF SAID ELECTRODES ON OPPOSED SIDES THEREOF. 